Apparatus and method for removing gas from enclosed areas



E. LAMB PFARATQS A310 METHOD FOR REMOVING GAS FROM ENCLSED AREAS vilif lii 11111111111 1.} 1. :31. ;|1!:. 21.21.:

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EDWAR Filed June 1, 1956 Patented June 14, 1938 warren smrss "career or ies APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING GAS FROM ENCLOSED AREAS Edward Lamb, San Francisco, Calif. Application June 1, 1936, SerialNo. 82,707

13 Claims.

'This invention relates to apparatus and method for removing gas from enclosed areas and has for one of its objects the provision of a relatively light, portable device adapted to accomplish the removal of heat, smoke, or other gases from buildings, ships, sewers, mines, or other substantially enclosed areas by use of compressed air, steam, or the like, and which device is also adapted, if desired, to be used to force fresh air, or. steam, or other gases, into such buildings, etc.

pressed air or steam, but connected to said source for actuation thereof, and in which unit the mo-' tive power for moving the vehicle is adapted to supply the power for compressing the air or supplying the steam according to the character of said motivepower.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the specification and drawing annexed hereto.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 represents aside elevational view of a fire truck, including my invention thereon, operatively connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of my special portable device'for removing gases and heat or for supplying freshair to a particular point, as desired.

Fig. 3 is a reduced size elevational view of the device of Fig. 3 positioned horizontal and with an extension conduit connected thereto.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower end of the device of Fig. 2 as seen from the line 4---4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view as seen from the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In detail the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1 comprises a fire truck including Wheels, chassis frame and body anda conventional power take-off l operatively connected to the engine of the truck with a clutch lever 2 accessible to the driver-for operatively connecting and for disconnecting the iake-off from the engine. The driving shaft 3 from the power take-01f carries a pulley 4 connected by a chain or belt 5 to a pulley 6 on a shai't arranged for operating an air compressor 1 from which the compressed air goes to a compressed air tank 8 and from the tank 8 to a puritier 9. From the tank 8 a valved air conduit Iii connects to a conventional hollow hose reel spindle to which spindle is connected one end of an air hose H that is normally coiled on the reel 12 and the other end of the hose connects to a hollow annular base of a tubular smoke and heat.

ejector generally designated [3, which is removably mounted on the truck.

A valved air line 14 leads from the air purifier to a rotatable reel of hose l5 connecting with the hollow spindle thereof as is ordinary in such reels, to which spindle one end of a hose line I 7 extends for connecting at its opposite end to a reduction valve 48 from which valve a conduitconveys air under reduced pressure to the inside of a mask [8 for supplying air under pressure to the wearer when the mask is on a person.

.An auxiliary air purifier 20 is part of the mask assembly, which purifier is'arranged for automatically opening a line to flow of air under atmospheric pressure to within the mask in the event of an'obstruction to flow in line H, and

at the same time closes the inlet from the reduction valve into the mask. It is manifest that several air lines may-connect to, line it as through yokes or a branched fitting 2!.

Also leading from the air purifier 9 is an air line 22 operatively connected to a conventional pneumatic winch'23 positioned at the forward end of the truck, and other line 2 leads to a reel of hose 25 at the rear end of the truck for supplying air to the hose through a hollow spindle rotatably mounting the reel in the same manner as reels H, IS. The hoseof reel 25 is operous air lines are suitably valved, as indicated in the drawing for closing ofi the air to any line as desired, or closing all of the lines when not in use. The power take-off, already described, is conventional, and is adapted to operate from the main truck engine when the truck is proceeding to the fire or is stationary, hence a satisfactory air pressure is quickly built up for immediate use of all pieces of fire equipment when the truck has arrived at the fire or at any point where the apparatus is needed.

The smoke and heat ejector 13 comprises annular base 27 interiorly formed with an elon-, gated continuous air passageway 28 therein in the general shape of an Archimedes spiral a indicated in Fig. 5, an air inlet 29 entering a the enlarged diameter of the spiral from which inlet the air hose H extends for supplying air under pressure thereto.

In the position of the ejector as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the passageway 28 is in a hori-' zontal plane. The upper wall 30 of the passageway is formed to extend upwardly at 3| adjacent the inner side of the spiral to form .an annular upstanding collar with its inner sides tapering inwardly as they extend upwardly from wall 30 and an annular flange 32 projects outwardly around the upper edge of the collar and then by bolts 33, a gasket 31 being positioned between.

said flanges to form an air tight connection.

The radially inner wall of the spiral passage way curves upwardly to terminate in a cylindrical portion 38, spaced at its upper terminating edge about five thousandths of an inch from the inner side of the collar 34 and just above the tapered inner side of the collar 3|, thus forming an annular, upwardly directed relatively small,

aperture for discharge of compressed air orsteam entering the spiral passageway through inlet 29, and secured to and extending upwardly from collar 34 is a tubular extension 39, the walls of which taper slightly outwardly frorn'its point I of connection with collar 34, the inner tapered surface being flush with, and in extension of the inner surface of collar 34.

A handle 40 projects from a side of the tubular member 39 adjacent the base casting to permit carrying the ejector, and handles 41 are at the outer end of the tubular member to enable several operators to manipulate the ejector as desired. Also a ring 42 with outwardly projecting lugs 43 is secured around the upper end of the tubular member for providing the lugs for a conventional bayonet joint for connecting a hose 44 of canvas, rubber, or the like, capable of being coiled or rolled up when not in use or tubular extension to the outer end of the member 39, the hose having a conventional coupling at one end internally recessed in the usual way for providing the female member for receiving lugs 43. In certain installations it is highly desirable that a tripod 44" be provided for supportingthe ejector horizontally.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that my ejector, when compressed air is admitted to the spiral passageway 28, operates on the induction jet principle. The base member is formed to provide an annular nozzle and induces a flow of air, smoke, or other gases, including heat, through the member 39.

In actual practice, one of my devices, formed with a .005 inch ejection orifice and approximately 2. 6 inch throat diameter with an overall length of 36 inches and with the outer end of the member 39 approximately 10 inches in di-.

ameter, has a Venturi displacement of 4400 cubic feet per minute at the rate of 73 miles per hour with compressed air at only lbs. pressure.

In a recorded test, the base end of the device was placed through an opening in the wall of an ordinary room with a fire burning therein,

and filled with smoke. The temperature Within the room was F. and only three minutes elapsed from the time the smoke ejector commenccd operation until the smoke was ejected a, an.

out of the room and the temperature reduced to 78 F. when the firemen enteredand extinguished the fire. The room was 21 x 11 x 8 feet.

In a room 30 x 12 x 8 feet with the temperature F. and filled with smoke and fire, the ejector removed the smoke, reduced the temperature to about 80 F. and the fire extinguished in less than four minutes from the time of entry and the ejector was then reversed to blow fresh air into the room Clearing the same of all traces of smoke and fumes in. another two minutes.

Heretofore, where fire has started in basements, substantiallyenclosed rooms, or in the holds of ships, or where dangerous gas has accumulated or is released from broken pipes, there has been no effective manner of clearing the rooms or compartments or of forcing fresh air into places after the removal of gases. Also the intense heat, where fire is in the rooms or cornpartments, has precluded the opportunity for firemen to enter and to work effectively. The rapid and'large displacement of smoke, fumes, heat, etc., from such rooms by my device, not only accomplishes the result of clearing the room of smoke and heat, but functions to reduce combustion since it reduces the supply of oxygen to the flames. By extending the length of the tubular niember 39, its eficiency can be greatly increased, where necessary, although the device vwithout the extension is normally satisfactory.

I therefore claim:

l. The method of removing or clearing rooms or enclosed areas of smoke, dangerous gases or heat comprising the steps of conducting air under compression to the room from a remote source of compressed air and ejecting the compressed air through an air induction nozzle at the room in a direction outwardly of the room for inducing a flow of gas through the nozzle from within the room to outside the room for clearing the room of said gas, followed by the step of reversing the position of the air induction nozzle and directional flow of compressed air therethrough for inducing a flow of fresh air through the nozzle from outside the room to within the room.

2. Fire fighting apparatus comprising a vehicle, an air compressor thereon, means for operating the compressor, a compressed air-oper- 'ated air induction device formed with a Venturishaped open ended passageway and an annular discharge aperture adjacent the throat and 'around the inner sideof the passageway arranged for discharging compressed air into the passageway toward one open end of the passageway whereby outside air will be induced to flow into the passageway through the opposite open end and through said passageway and out of the first mentioned open end, a flexible extensible compressed air line connecting between the compressor and said device, said device being removable from the vehicle independently of the compressor and being portable for positioning said device with said opposite open end in communication with the inside of a room and with the first mentioned open end directed outwardly of the room for inducing an outward flow of air, including gas or heat from the room upon actuation of the device. v

3. Apparatus for removing gas from a room comprising an elongated body formed with an open ended bore extending longitudinally there through, one open end thereof forming a gas inlet and the opposite open end thereof forming.

a gas outlet andthe bore being of enlarged di-' r g! van, a

- ameter at its opposite open ends tapering toward between the chamber and bore, said aperture opening into the bore in the direction of the outlet end thereof, a source of compressed air, a flexible, extensible, air line connecting between the chamber and source of compressed air, said body being portable independently of the source of compressed air for positioning in any desired position within the room with the outlet directed outwardly of the room whereby upon ejection of compressed air from the chamber through said aperture and into the bore the gas within the room will be induced to flow through the bore from the inlet to the outlet and out of the room.

4. In a construction as defined in claim 3, an elongated open ended cylindrical tube secured at one end to the outlet end of the body, said tube arranged with the bore thereof forming an extension or" the bore of the body, means releasably securing said tube to the body. 5. In a construction as defined in claim 3, an elongated open ended cylindrical tube secured at one end to the end of the body, said tube ar ranged with the bore thereof forming an extension of the bore of the body, said tube being of dinally thereof, when the apparatus is not in use and means releasably securing said tube to thebody.

6. In a construction as defined in claim 3, said 40 body being formed at the inlet end to provide an enlarged base around the inlet'for supporting the body vertically thereon.

7. In a construction as defined in claim 3, a wheeled vehicle, said body beingremovably sup- 5 ported therein when'not in use, said source of compressed air being stationarily mounted on said vehicle, said flexible air line comprising-a hose operatively connected at one end with the body for admitting airto the chamber, and means operatively connecting the opposite end of the hose with the source of compressed air for admitting air to the hose including a reel arranged and adapted for winding the hose thereon and for unwinding the hose therefrom without disconnecting the operative connections of the hose with the body and source of compressed air whereby the body may be removed from the vehicle to points of various distances from the'vehicle for use at such points.

8. A device for removing gas from any desired area comprising an open ended, elongated tube, the walls of the bore of said tube tapering from opposite ends thereof of enlarged diameter to a reduced diameter at a point intermediate said ends thereby forming a restricted throat portion formed to direct the air ejectedtherethrough into the bore along lines extending substantially parallel with the walls of the bore in. a direction toward one of said open ends of the tube, an air [line connected with the air inlet of the chamber for conducting air under pressure to said chamber, said tube being freely movable to various positions and the air line being flexible for per mitting movement of the tube to different areas or to various positions relative to a'predetermined area as may be desired.

9. In a construction as defined in claim 8, the cross-sectional area of said aperture being substantially uniform at any point around its length and the distance between adjacent sides of the aperture at any point around the length thereof being not more than .005 of an inch, said chamher being of progressively reduced cross-sectional area from a point at the air inlet in a direction remote from the opposite open end thereof, the.

walls of said bore being formed to provide an annular aperture extending therearound adjacent the throat, said aperture opening into the bore in the direction'of the open end of the tube remote from the throat, and the aperture being formed to eject fluid therethrough into the bore at. all points therearound alonglines extending V substantially parallel with the walls of the bore 35 flexible material adapted to be rolled up longitubetween the aperture and said remote end where by fluid ejected into the bore through said aperture at points at opposite sides of the bore will tend to move --di-rect-ly toward said remote end along non-intersecting paths, a source of fluid under pressure, said tube being movable independently of said source, and means connecting between said source and said aperture for conducting fluid under-pressure to said aperture, said means including a flexible fluid pressure line for permitting movementof said tube to various positions as desired.

11. An ejector nozzle, comprising an elongated,

mg longitudinally therethrough, one open end of said body forming an inlet and the opposite open end forming an outlet, said bore being of enlarged diameter at the inlet and outlet ends, thereof and v of reduced diameter at a point relatively close to said inlet end, the walls of said bore extending oppositely outwardly from said point of reduced diameter to the inlet and outlet ends respectively tubular body havinga'n open-ended bore extendbeing of progressively increased diameter whereby the bore is of generally Venturi shape with a throat portion at the point of reduced diameter, an annular aperture extending circumferentially completely around the bore at said throatpor tion and opening into said bore in a direction subtoward the outlet upon being ejected through the aperture in a direction substantially parallel with said axis, means for conducting fluid under pressure to said aperture including a fluid pressure line constructedv and arranged to permit bodily movement of the nozzle to various points while the fluid is conducted through the line to said aperture, and said nozzle being relatively'light and free from positive securement in a fixed position for permitting manual positioning of the nozzle to various positions as desired. v

12. An ejector nozzle comprising a pair of generally frustoconical tubular members secured together and positionedgvith their bores inaxial alignment, the smaller diameter end'of one of said members being disposed in spaced telescopic relation within the smaller diameter end of the other member, the diverging inner sides of the bore of said other member being straight from the enlarged diameter end thereof to and including the portion disposed in opposed spaced relation to the smaller diameter end of the first mentioned member and the opposed adjacent faces of the smaller diameter ends of the members being substantially parallel whereby said opposed adjacent faces form the opposite sides of an annular aperture adapted to direct air passing between said sides from outside the members into said other member in a-direction. toward the enlarged diameter end of said other member and along lines substantially parallel with the inner sides of the wall of said other member, and means for conducting air under pressure to said aperture for discharge therethrough, said nozzle being free from seourement to a fixed position and'the operator for moving the nozzle to various positions as desired.

- EDWARD LALIB. 

